Exploring the potential of Stem Cell Therapy for management of Rheumatoid Arthritis- Opportunities, Challenges and Future Prospective

Abstract: Cell based therapies bid the potential of altering and treating the diseases which cannot be resolved or eased by the conventional methods, treatments and existing pharmaceuticals. Cell therapies are diversified depending on the types of cells such as Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC's), chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) cells and Regulatory T-cells (Treg). MSC's offer new prospects in the management of autoimmune disorders as they exhibit unique immunomodulatory properties, thus can serve as a promising approach in stem cell-based therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disorder that causes degradation of the synovium membrane, causing pain, inflammation, and progressive destruction of bones and cartilage. The pathogenesis of RA is linked to dysregulation of adaptive and innate immunity. The rising incidence of rheumatoid arthritis is being attributed to changes in lifestyle and food habits. In clinical practise, conventional treatments such as antirheumatic drugs, steroid drugs, and biological agents are used. However, long-term use of these drugs causes side effects, and may develop drug resistance in some RA patients. Recent research on MSC-based therapy is seen as a viable strategy in the management of RA in this regard. Current advancements in MSC based pre-clinical and clinical studies and other strategies for enhancement of MSC's immunoregulatory properties are further discussed in the article. Keywords: Cell therapies, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Mesenchymal stem cells, Inflammation